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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 120 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  4. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  5. When will it ________________ you to start?
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. land — a country
  4. cap — of ice
  5. suit — to fit
  6. branch — a division
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. land — to come down
  9. mark — a grade
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. cap — a lid
  12. suit — in cards
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. cap — a hat
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. land — ground
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. mark — a trace
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. foot — a measure
  24. suit — clothes

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com